Citation

Description

Stoats are native to mainland Britain, but were first recorded in Orkney in 2010 following an assumed accidental introduction. Since the launch of the the ‘Stoats in Orkney’ Facebook page in September 2014, the majority of sightings have been reported via Facebook. Previously, records were reported directly to SNH, (these sightings are presented as a separate dataset).

Sampling Description

Quality Control

The dataset is as reliable as the public’s identification of stoats allows; all records are considered to be reliable or probable. In some cases images were provided, enabling identification to be confirmed. Reports assessed only as possible or inconclusive (often based on tracks/signs which could not be given a high probability of being attributed to stoat, or unclear sightings which may have been of other species such as feral ferrets) have been excluded from the dataset.
The primary location information submitted for the majority of records was descriptive or an address. These locations have been assigned 6-figure OS grid references, but some sightings may not have been at the precise grid reference shown. In some cases the recorder provided a grid reference.

Method steps

‘Citizen science’ records were reported by the public to the ‘Stoats in Orkney’ Facebook page (accessible only to logged-in Facebook users). In some cases images were provided to confirm identification. The primary location information submitted for the majority of records was descriptive.